This 10th-century castle was constructed by the Bonacolsi family, the leading family of Mantua before Gonzaga. Later, the castle was used by the Gonzaga and Scaligeri families. The fame of the castle is also linked to the history of Modena. In 1311, Francesco I Pico was designated by the emperor to manage the city of Modena. After only one year, he was hated by both the two major factions of the city (Guelph and Ghibelline) and was betrayed with the help of the Bolognese army. He was able to escape the…
